Diamonds85

Can someone explain to me the reasoning behind Ben Hopwood's reduction? I'm not doubting the reason, whatever it is. Just want to know why

I don't see why everyone underestimates this Oxford side, especially once Killeen is here... 4 heatleaders, Jacob Clouting is only going to get better with age and Aaran Butcher isn't an awful junior reserve... If Luke turns out to be a hidden gem, I see them as one of the better sides in the league. Belle Vue is still my bets as champions though...

That's what I thought, shame Why not mention it? It happened and it was totally unacceptable, when JBA 'wiped' out Stevie at Scunthorpe everyone blew up about it, when Kenni was wiped out at Newcastle, everyone kicked off, it should be made a deal of, because petty things such as that do NOT need to be in our sport, aye have a punch up in the pits if you must, but do it off the bikes, they're far too dangerous... Let's face it, we're gonna go bust anyway, so we may as well try and be competitive... And I doubt BWD is cheap...?

Wonderful thanks, I wish I knew this earlier

What ever happened to Nick Skorja and Ondrej Smetana I'm sure when Zagar comes over for Belle Vue, Nick will come to the North of England with him

Only hope we have is a few of Redcar's riders either have never been to Brough, or aren't the best here... Although with 2 ex Diamonds, Charles Wright and Erik... I don't see us winning this at all. At least we'll see a decent team and what a good line up could be in this league

You're right, I know... Which is why I said it wasn't going to happen. Just responding to the previous poster. There isn't enough riders around to make any changes... May I ask why no to Rene? Do you have any insider knowledge, I've always wanted to see him back... As for Lasse's attitude... Doesn't seem to be much worse than Brads? At least he's never wiped out a rider after the race... And both pull up if at the back, at least Lasse was better around Brough, although I do agree, it's a pretty like for like change, only worth it if we can get a decent rider in for George also (I know it ain't happening)

I've been going to Newcastle since I was 5 years old, and this is the first season that I'm honestly not excited about one bit. I won't stop going myself, but the usual group of people I stand with, none of them were there last Sunday, so there 5 supporters who saw the team and didn't bother... not looking good is it?

That's why I don't understand why we don't just spend that large sum of money on one of the hard charging Dane's I've listed above, all of which are proven heatleaders and can ride Brough well(ish), better than Brad anyway... I think the most important thing would be to get James Wright back at reserve, as he was amazing there last year...

I would NOT get rid of Lee... But I would get rid of the 2 New Zealanders, as horrible as it sounds... BWD has never impressed me and George looks far too raw and inexperienced yet, maybe invite him back next year... But our team this year can't afford to carry passengers. Personally I would try and make changes to get James back at reserve, Lee and James would make a very good partnership both home and away imo. Dropping BWD means Matty will probably go to number 1, so we would need a strong number 2 (at least at home) to partner him (Max) I'd leave Starkey at 5 and I would bring in a new 3/4 partnership. No way would I want Josh Bates anywhere near my team, or Zane Keleher for that matter, Sedgemen possibly, but definitely not at 3 or 4. If I was Granty, I would be begging Tommy Jorgensen, Rene Bach, Lasse Bjerre (I know, I know), Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen (to reconsider dropping the uk, as he still rides in Denmark, but nowhere else that I'm aware of??) or Jonas B Andersen to come in as the 3rd (or number 1 in Rene's/NBJ case) heatleader. 1. Matthew Wethers 2. Max Clegg 3. Tommy, Rene, Lasse, NBJ? 4. JBA, Sedgemen? 5. Paul Starke 6. Lee Complin 7. James Wright I know someone is going to tell me why every one of these riders can't sign for us, whether it be money, rules, situation, personal preference, but I don't know each and every one of these rider's situations... Basically, we need to 'break the bank' to get a decent 3rd heatleader in... Because Brad will NOT be cheap... I know it's always a bad idea in speedway, but if we are going to struggle on every season, I'd rather go out with a bang than a whimper... Maybe tomorrow, after the pain of tonight's result has worn off, I'll snap back to reality and think more sensibly... But this, in a dream world, is what I'd like to see happen. BUT, this is just all a hypothetical scenario, because I know it isn't going to happen, so we've just got to get behind the lads we've got now and hope BWD and George improve week on week and we can at least finish 10th

I can't agree more tbh... But who? And I really don't see it happening. I am concerned for the club as a whole... I felt ever so slightly optimistic going into the season as well... Not that we'd be good, but we'd be competitive at least and maybe not finish rock bottom I know what I would do... But I don't want to be ridiculed and I want to try and get behind the lads, because it's not going to change, being realistic...

So there's my predicted crowd down 25% already

He was terrible last Sunday at Brough... I do hope he manages to pull through and at least becomes a competitive number 2...

We'll be alright, only paying 25-35 points a meeting away and not much more at home, it will be our cheapest season on record... But when 3 men and their dog is the crowd come the end of the season, where is the points money gonna come from...? Gonna be another dodgy winter next year I feel...

Gonna be another long and embarrassing year..... Just hope something changes, whether that be riders getting better or a miracle

I've tried to put some sort of race format together for this competition, it's not perfect, anyone got any input? Edit: Please ignore Sheffield and Wolverhampton's bye pass to the semis and finals I'm guessing there will be a semi and a final.... Always is...

As long as there's no long answer, then thanks

Only other I can really think of is Jaimon Lidsey, most other 'older' Australians have already had stints over here... The likes of McGuinness are not good enough imo, unless the NL starts allowing Aussies etc

Do I need to pay extra to get onto the backstraight? Like the main stand near bend 4, thanks

Even if that were true... Which other Australians that aren't currently either in or allowed to ride in this country would even be worth signing... Jacob Hook and James Pearson are probably the lowest quality but worthwhile Aussies, anyone lower is not ready...

Well then any Halifax fans should be hoping for one maybe two current teams to close over next winter then, or else who the bloody hell is going to ride for them??? I fear my team may be one of them

As far as I'm aware the speedway is the biggest sports team in Poole?? So why would the council just let them go without a fight. Is Poole the last 'speedway town' in the whole country?

I'm just not aware of a 6 team pairs meeting format ever taking place? So I don't know how it would be ran... I'm guessing that there will be a new race format created, which is what I'm asking...

I don't think anyone's saying get rid of them now!! I think it's just a 'oh no here we go again' moment we've had to get used to so much over the last 5 years or so... Maybe even longer for some of the older fans... Just sick of not having proper out and out number 1s in the team kinda thing... But I guess we're the lucky ones because we actually have a team As for Ben Barker... I am a massive fan of him, Plymouth being my second home, I've seen him a lot down there... However it was plainly obvious that Ben did not want to be at Newcastle last season even before the tapes went up on the very first meeting... He tried to get out of it enough times anyway... He's VERY talented and VERY spectacular to watch, but he'll never make it as a big time rider, because he's a nutcase... Still love watching him though, particularly on small and tight tracks... Balls of steel And if BWD does read this forum (which I highly doubt) he's not hated already and it's nothing personal against him, it's not his fault he's been given a ridiculously inflated average... However I don't think us Newcastle fans particularly appreciate giving up after 3 laps or so, so hopefully that stops by next week... Even Ludvig, who was amazing around Brough, got hate for that...

Completely agree with most of what you said. However I will disagree on calling Matty and Paul second strings, they have been proven heatleaders for years. Also Max is basically a heat leader now and by the end of the year will probably be our number 1 Other than that, great round up of how the meeting panned out. I believe we are not short on money, however the winter situation meant we lost a few of the big hitters we could have gone in for to other teams as there was so much uncertainty surrounding the club. Hopefully next winter will be better and we can tempt the likes of Steve back???